I am well aware that I haven't updated in ages, but things like life get in the way. (shrug) Oh, and to Sky Dragon Queen, just someone giving me another review after not updating for a while gives me more initiative to keep updating. Anyway, enjoy this next chapter!
Olivia and Basil stayed up until 11 pm that night, scratching their brains until they finally decided to go back to the scene of the crime that next morning. Basil walked Olivia to his other adjoining room upstairs for a good nights rest.
"Here we are, Ms. Flavasham. I hope you will find the room to your liking for the weekend." said Basil tiredly. Just as he was going to set down the hallway to his own room, candle in hand, he felt a small, trembling hand tugging nervously at his night shirt.
"Umm... I don't like the dark, Mr. Basil. Could you leave your candle on my nightstand?" Olivia asked. Basil's candle offered little light and it only accentuated the shadows of childish fear cast across Olivia's face. He sighed.
"Fine, whatever." Basil replied, obviously too exhausted to argue. He followed Olivia into room and set the candle beside her bed. He tried to leave again, but he again felt that familiar tug.
"Could you maybe... tuck me in?" Basil looked at her and sighed. "... Please?" She added sweetly. Basil sighed in defeat as Olivia crawled into bed. However, as he tucked the blankets around her, he did it with great care, as if handling a porcelain doll. Olivia gave Basil another hopeful look.
"Let me guess. You want a story as well, do you not?" Basil chuckled as Olivia nodded her head sheepishly.
"Alright." Basil said as he sat on the side of the bed. "How should we begin?"
"With, 'Once upon a time', of course!" Olivia giggled. Basil smiled indulgently.
"Ahh, yes. I do believe that is how we begin. Once upon a time there was a... a little princess. The Little Princess and her father, The King, lived happily in a big castle. The whole kingdom loved them, and all was well. Then, one day, The King went missing, The Little Princess searched through every room in the castle, but The King was nowhere to be found. Afraid, The Little Princess sent out a decree that the peasant that found her father would become the Royal Knight. Many days and nights passed, when finally an intelligent peasant decided to take on the challenge. He followed extremely large footprints that led to the outside of the city, and eventually, to a... Umm... Secret underground cave, where a hideous monster lived. Through wits and great cunning, the peasant fooled the monster into falling off the edge of a cloc- err, I mean a... cliff, and escaped the dark cavern. He made it back to the kingdom with The King, and there was great rejoicing. The peasant was honored not only as the Royal Knight, but also-"
"-as the Great Mouse Detective?" Olivia questioned, and laughed. Basil blushed.
"Oh, Basil..." Olivia sighed, shaking her head.
"Well the story wasn't all about me!" Basil said defensively. "There was The King and a monster and-"
"The Little Princess." Olivia smiled and the said,
"And The Little Princess was so happy to have her daddy back, that she gave the Royal Knight a big hug." And she gave Basil just that. She then yawned, for the story had taken much out of her. She lay back on the pillow, her eyelids dropped heavily, and very soon she was fast asleep. Basil looked upon her adoringly and placed a kiss on her forehead. He blew out the candle, and as he slipped silently out the door he whispered,
"Goodnight, Little Princess."